Audit: Schools Spent Stimulus Money On Cruises, Catering

Delegate Kathy Szeliga, who is the House Minority Leader and Minority Whip, explained to Maryland's News Now Co-Host Mary Beth Marsden why she is outraged over the audit and what should be done about it. Download This File

(AP Photo)

Read the Maryland State Department of Education's response to this audit. Download This File

Maryland 2nd District Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger reacts to the audit. Download This File

A federal audit is pointing fingers at the way public schools in Maryland spent federal stimulus money.

The U.S. Department of Education audited the way the state spent its stimulus money,and it found Baltimore City Schools spent $4,352 on a pair of dinner cruises for parents school volunteers and staff, plus $1,575 for catering for school events, and $1,336 for theater tickets.

Prince George's County Schools are also criticized for similar spending.

In their formal response, the Maryland State Department of Education, which administered the money ,said it partially agreed with the findings, but added the department was adequately monitoring how the money was spent.

A spokesman says the department is working to resolves the issues raised in the audit.

The audit was released in January, but on Wednesday Republicans in the Maryland General Assembly called for an investigation, and called for the state education department to adhere to the findings of the audit.

"It is appalling that taxpayersÆ money was spent to send teachers on these pleasure cruises," said Senate Minority Leader E.J. Pipkin in a news release.

"These dollars were supposed to put more teachers into our classrooms; instead, itÆs putting them into cruise ship dining rooms."